British Dyslexia Association grant supports Children Will Shine project

Posted: 9th January 2017

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) have received £20,000 to fund the Children will Shine project, which provides after-school literacy support for children with dyslexia and other learning difficulties.

Children will Shine aims to break the cycle of poor literacy and numeracy. The project is focused on helping vulnerable primary school pupils who are struggling due to dyslexia, special learning disabilities or hidden disabilities such as dyspraxia and dyscalculia to develop their literacy, numeracy and self-esteem. Reports have shown that young people with low levels of literacy and no qualifications are five times more likely to be unemployed and are at a higher risk of offending or taking drugs. BDA hopes that this early intervention will enable children to achieve the best possible start in life.

The project will be delivered from Bracknell’s Wildridings School, initially supporting 20 children. The children will work in small groups, receiving support with strategies for spelling, reading, comprehension, and numeracy.

The workshops will be delivered on a weekday after school by experienced specialist teachers, with the addition of teaching assistants who will be trained by the charity. Parents are involved in the management committee and are also encouraged to take part in the workshops as assistants.

Bracknell is the latest area to be selected, following successful programmes in London, Manchester and the Midlands. Over the past three years, Children will Shine has been successfully delivered in 10 schools across the country. So far the results have been extremely positive, with all children having made progress in their reading and spelling.

The British Dyslexia Association are delighted to receive a grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation for £20,000. Thanks to this kind and generous grant we will be delivering the Help Children to Shine project at the Wildridings School in Bracknell, and will support primary pupils, ensuring that they are given the best possible start. We aim to develop literacy skills, build self-esteem and support numeracy skills in order to help prevent a widening of the attainment gap between these children and their peers.